Thus peradventure Callias, Thrasimachus, Polus, Aristophanes, or some of his adversaries and emulators might object; but neither they nor Anytus and Melitus his bitter enemies, that condemned him for teaching Critias to tyrannize, his impiety for swearing by dogs and plain trees, for his juggling sophistry, &c. never so much as upbraided him with impure love, writing or speaking of that subject; and therefore without question, as he concludes, both Socrates and Plato in this are justly to be excused.

But suppose they had been a little overseen, should divine Plato be defamed? no, rather as he said of Cato’s drunkenness, if Cato were drunk, it should be no vice at all to be drunk. They reprove Plato then, but without cause (as Ficinus pleads) for all love is honest and good, and they are worthy to be loved that speak well of love.

Being to speak of this admirable affection of love (saith Valleriola) there lyes open a vast and philosophical field to my discourse, by which many lovers become mad: let me leave my more serious meditations, wander in these Philosophical fields, and look into those pleasant Groves of the Muses, where with unspeakable variety of flowers, we may make Garlands to our selves, not to adorn us only, but with their pleasant smell and juyce to nourish our souls, and fill our minds desirous of knowledge, &c.

After an harsh and unpleasing discourse of Melancholy, which hath hitherto molested your patience, and tired the author, give him leave with Godefridus the Lawyer, and Laurentius (cap. 5.) to recreate himself in this kind after his laborious studies, since so many grave Divines and worthy men have without offence to manners, to help themselves and others, voluntarily written of it.

Heliodorus a Bishop, penned a love story of Theagines and Chariclea, and when some Cato’s of his time reprehended him for it, chose rather, saith Nicephorus, to leave his Bishoprick then his book.

Æneas Sylvius an ancient Divine and past 40 years of age, (as he confesseth himself, (after Pope Pius Secundus) endited that wanton history of Euryalus and Lucretia. And how many Superintendents of learning could I reckon up that have written of light phantastical subjects? Beroaldus, Erasmus, Alpheratius, twenty foure times printed in Spanish, &c.

Give me leave then to refresh my muse a little, and my weary Readers, to expatiate in this delightsome field, hoc deliciarum campo, as Fonseca terms it, to season a surly discourse, with a more pleasing aspersion of love matters: Edulcare vitam convenit, as the Poet invites us, curas nugis, &c. ’tis good to sweeten our life with some pleasing toyes to rellish it, and as Pliny tell us, magna pars studiosorum amœnitates quærimus, most of our students love such pleasant subjects.

Though Macrobius teach us otherwise, that those old Sages banished all such light Tracts from their studies, to Nurses cradles, to please only the ear; yet out of Apuleius I will oppose as honourable Patrons, Solon, Plato, Xenophon, Adrian, &c. that as highly approve of these Treatises. On the other side me thinks they are not to be disliked, they are not so unfit.

I will not peremptorily say as one did, tam suavia dicam facinora, ut male sit ei qui talibus non delectetur, I will tell you such pretty stories, that foul befall him that is not pleased with them; Neq; dicam ea quæ vobis usui sit audivisse, & voluptati meminisse, with that confidence, as Beroaldus doth his enarrations on Propertius.

I will not expect or hope for that approbation, which Lipsius gives to his Epictetus, pluris facio quum relego: semper ut novum, & quum repetivi, repetendum; the more I read, the more shall I covet to read. I will not presse you with my Pamphlets, or beg attention, but if you like them you may.

Pliny holds it expedient, and most fit, severitatem jucunditate etiam in scriptis condire, to season our works with some pleasant discourse; Synesius approves it, licet in ludicris ludere, the Poet admires it,

Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci;

And there be those without question, that are more willing to read such toyes, then I am to write: Let me not live, saith Aratines Antonia, If I had not rather hear thy discourse, then see a play! No doubt but there be more of her minde; ever have been, ever will be, as Hierome bears me witnesse. A far greater part had rather read Apuleius then Plato: Tully himself confesseth he could not understand Plato’s Timæus, and therefore cared lesse for it; but every school-boy hath that famous testament of Grunnius Corocotta Porcellus at his fingers ends. The Comicall Poet,

——— Id sibi negoti credidit solum dari, Populo ut placerent, quas fecisset fabulas.

Made this his onely Care and sole study to please the people, tickle the ear, and to delight; but mine earnest intent is as much to profit as to please; non tam ut populo placerem, quam ut populum juvarem, and these my writings I hope, shall take like guilded pills, which are so composed as well to tempt the appetite, and deceive the palat, as to help and medicinally work upon the whole body; my lines shall not only recreate, but rectifie the minde.